August 01, 1985 by John A. Holzmann

On Saturday, October 19, 1985, thousands of Christians the world over will walk and pray for the extension of God's kingdom to all peoples of the world.

The event is being called a "Walk for the Hidden Peoples' by its sponsor and promoter, the United States Center for World Mission in Pasadena, California. 

The Center is hoping to raise the last $8.5 million necessary to finish paying for its $25 million former college campus that houses its 70 plus agencies.

According to founder Ralph Winter, the Center is the single largest property in the world devoted 10 cooperative work in mission strategy, training,  mobilization and technical services.

John Patterson, director of the Walk for the Hidden Peoples, suggests that 'if 100,000 participants each raise $85, the Center's campus would be paid for in a single day.'

At the ACMC conference held in Wheaton, Illinois last month, 130 churches decided to take the Walk for the Hidden Peoples home with them.

Delegates noted that the Walk was a tangible way to get their churches, and especially younger people, practically involved on behalf of the unreached peoples.

At Youth Congress '85 held in Washington, D.C., about 200 young people from 25 different states said, "Yes, I'll walk for the Hidden Peoples."

So far, people from over 50 countries have agreed to walk, and every state but North Dakota is represented. Some people are putting together large (100+) groups to walk with them.

The U.S. Center for World Mission is committed to the establishment of a church in every people group around the world.

"The necessity of planting a church in the midst of every people is clearly stated throughout Scripture," says Winter, "but certainly, one of the most obvious passages is Revelation 5:9.

'Them we an told that, before the end of the age. 'some from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation' will have been purchased for God to serve him as a kingdom of priests.

"We believe this end-times premise can be fulfllled by the year. The resources exist. The question is only whether or not we will make them availible."

'We at the Center are dedicated to mobilizing the church, especially the American church, on behalf of the unreached peoples of the world.'

Persons interested in pastipaung m the Walk for the Hidden Peoples are encouraged to fill in the registration form on the back cover of this issue of Mission Fron:icrs, c contact the Center by telephone at 1  8) 245.WALI( (nationwide) or I (800)a35 WALIC (California).

Center Makes it as Easy as Possible

One of the chief obstacles to success in a walk-a-thon type of fund raiser iscollecting the money. Said Lobo Patterson, walk-a-thon coordinator for the U.S. Center.

"We want to help people over that obstacle, so we're offering to bill sponsors for the amount of their pledge."

Participants in the Walk for the Hidden Peoples are given sponsor sheets that include all the necessaty information to enable the Center to bill sponsors for the amount of their pledges.

Participants are being asked to send in both their sponsorslieets and a mileage verificatioti report after they complete thea Walk on October 19th, Center staff then intend to complete the money collection process.

Walk to Spread WorldVision

"Walk for the Hidden Peoples is more than a slogan, more than a tide, more than a description of the ultimate beneficiaries of our project," said Walk for the Hidden Peoples director John Patterson in an interview recently.

"The Walk for the Hidden Peoples event is intended to awaken the church to the final frontiers of gospel proclamation"

"We hope that every participant in the Walk will serve as a diligent spokesman on behalf of the generally overlooked half of humanity that lives in cultural groups without an indigenous church."

Patterson indicated that participants are provided materials thatexplain who the Hidden Peoples are and what their need is. These informational brochures are intended to be given in everyone who agrees to sponsor a walker.

"Of course, one of the primary purposes of the Walk is to raise money for the U.S. Center," he said. 'But at least as important in our minds is the need for ongoing commitment to the Hidden Peoples. We want to raise up World Christians people with the heart of God for the world.

'"ne time donations, while important probably essential to the survival of the Center  wilt never enable the church as a whole to finish the task of establishing congregations of believers among every people group around the world."

"We have to educate. We have to mobilize people for the long haul. That's the reason for these brochures about the Hidden Peoples."

Participants to Receive Free T Shirts

A three color (black, red and green on white) t shirt with red trim advertising the October 19th Walk for the Hidden Peoples will be given to all participants who recruit 10 or more sponsors for their Walk for the Hidden Peoples.

T shirts are otherwise available from the U.S. Center for World Mission at $6.00 apiece.

To obtain your Walk for the Hidden Peoples t shirt, complete the registration form on the back cover of this issue of Mission Frontiers.

1985 Trans America Relay Run for the Hidden Peoples

In order to highlight the needs of the Hidden Peoples and to advertise the October 19th Walk for the Hidden Peoples, a nine member team plans to Run for the Hidden Peoples ... across America, beginning September 16th in Salem, Massachusseus, and ending October 19th in Pasadena, California. The map illustrates their intended route.

They plan to run relay fashion six days a week. Carrying a baton in one hour shifts, most team members will run two shifts per day. The first runner will start out at 6a.m. and the last runner is not expected to quit until 8 p.m.

Along the way the team hopes to pick up runners from different churches and youth groups who can also carry the baton for part of the route. On Sundays and weekday evenings, the team desires to speak in churches and to church groups.

The relay organizers are currently looking for churches and groups towho. the runners might speak; runners to run alongside during any part of the route; a married couple who run and Iwo other runners to round out the core learn that will go the entire five weeks

If you are interested or think you can help out in any of these areas, please contact: Run for the Hidden Peoples at (818)797 1111.